University of Nebraska
Visit University of Nebraska | Contact Administration

The University of Nebraska was founded on February 15, 1869, less than two years after Nebraska became the nation's 37th state. The original goal of this new land-grant university was, “To afford the inhabitants of this state with the means of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the various branches of literature, science, and the arts.” This goal has stood the test of time, inspiring the university's dedication to the education of students, research in a broad range of disciplines, and service to the state's citizens.

The University of Nebraska is the state's only public university. It became the first institution west of the Mississippi River to offer graduate education in 1903 and joined the prestigious Association of American Universities in 1909. Founded in Lincoln, the university included a medical center in Omaha beginning in 1902.

The University was reorganized under a 1968 act of the Nebraska Legislature. The legislation provided for the addition of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (formerly the municipal University of Omaha) and designated the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center as separate campuses. In 1991, the University of Nebraska at Kearney (formerly Kearney State College) became a campus of the university. The university also includes many research, extension, and service facilities statewide.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln, often called UNL or Nebraska, is the flagship institution of the University of Nebraska system. UNL was founded in 1869 as a land-grant university under the provisions of the Morrill Act. The University has two Lincoln campuses: City Campus (directly north of and adjacent to downtown Lincoln) and East Campus (two miles northeast of City Campus). East Campus was originally purchased for use as the university farm. The University is one of 60 elected members of the Association of American Universities.

The school's sports teams are the Cornhuskers (or simply "Huskers"). UNL is an NCAA Division I-A school and is a member of the Big 12 Conference.

The student newspaper, the Daily Nebraskan, has the fifth-highest circulation of any newspaper in the state.

UNL is also home of the Pershing Rifles National Headquarters. This is in recognition of General John J. Pershing (an 1893 NU law school graduate) who created "Company A," a competitive drill team, for the University of Nebraska's Cadet Corps in 1891. The drill team won the National Competitive Drills in 1892, changed its name to the "Varsity Rifles" when it became a recognized fraternal organization in 1893, and finally changed its name again to the "Pershing Rifles" in 1894.

To honor General Pershing's contribution, as well as his service to the university as a professor of Military Science and Tactics, UNL rededicated the Military and Naval Science Building as the John J. Pershing Military and Naval Science Building on April 20, 2006.